Electric switchboard



(:No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. A. FORDYOE.

ELEOTRIG SWITGHBOARD.

No. 572,748. Patented Dec. 8, 1896.

' (-No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shee't 2.

E. A. PORDYOE.

ELECTRIC SWITOHBOARD. No. 572,748. Patented Dec. 8, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMOND A. FORDYCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SWITCHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,748, dated December8, 1896.

Application filed November 4, 1893. Serial No. 489,989. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMOND A. FORDYCE, of Chicago, Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switchboards,of which the following is a specification.

The invention has for its object to provide a novel construction ofswitchboard which is simple and compact and which is capable ofcontrolling any desired number of electric circuits.

The invention is applicable to many uses, one use to which I havepractically applied it being for controlling the switches of a series ofreceiving-boxes in a pneumatic-tube system, wherein the despatch-tube isprovided with a series of receiving boxes or stations, each of which hasits communication with the main tube controlled by anelectrically-operated switch and the parts of which are so ar rangedthat upon the discharge of a carrier into or through the receiving-boxthe electric circuit is broken and the circuit-controlling key at theswitchboard released; but the invention is equally applicable to manyother forms of electrically-controlled apparatus in which a switchboardis employed for controlling the several circuits, each circuit having ata point distant from the switchboard a circuit-breaker.

In the construction of my switchboard I employ a series of keyscorrespondiugin numher to the number of electric circuits to becontrolled, a main conductor extending from the switchboard to a distantpoint, a series of branch conductors having one terminal at theswitchboard and connected with the main conductor and provided at somepoint in the branch by a circuit breaker, each of the branch circuitshaving its controlling-key. The several keys carry contact-pieces andare provided with controlling-springs which maintain the severalcircuits normally open, and a locking magnet or magnets are employed,arranged, usually, beneath the keyboard and carrying a connector-say, inthe form of a metal bar-with which the several contact-pieces carried bythe keys are made to impinge when the key is depressed. The depressionof any one key of the series will thus effect the closing of one of thebranch circuits and the locking-magnet will hold the key depressed andthe circuit closed until it is broken at a remote point.

The foregoing is a description of a simple form of apparatus; but in theconstruction which I have illustrated in the drawings I have employed amagnet consisting of two spools, each having a connector and both ofwhich connectors are impinged by the contact-pieces of the several keysof the circuit as they are respectively depressed. Any number of thesemagnets may be joined to the connector or connectors; but the vitalelement of the construction is the employment of a magnet or magnetsoperative to control the key after it has been depressed and maintainthe circuit closed until it is broken at a distant point.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan viewof a switchboard;Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3, an end view; Fig. 4, anelevation of the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 atransverse section through the keyboard and showing also a diagram ofone of the circuits with a circuitbreaker therein. Fig. 6 is adiagrammatic view in perspective showing the magnet, its pole-pieces, aseries of contacts, and two of the stems for controlling said contactswith a series of circuits, each including the battery, magnet, and oneof said contacts or circuitclosers, and a switch in each circuit.

In the drawings, A represents the base-piece of the switchboard, whichmay be affixed in a wall or tabletop and which has slidably mountedthereon a series of keys 13, each key having its stem projected throughthe base and suitably guidedas, for example, by the guides O. The keysare normally supported in a raised position by the springs D and carryon their lower ends the contact-pieces E, which extend in theconstruction shown transversely across beneath the board.

To the under side of the keyboard are socured the bracket-pieces F,which support at their lower ends the connectors G, which are affixed,respectively, to the cores 7!. of the magnets I'I. Insulating-strips Iare interposed between the several guides of the series of keys, andinsulating-strips or side pieces J may be secured parallel to each otherand to the brackets which carry the connectors. Upon one of these stripsare mounted the series of binding-posts K, one for each key and one forthe main conductor. The switchboard as laid out shows eleven keys,marked from 1 to 10, respectively, and one key marked L R.

The main conductor is marked M, and I have shown in Fig. 5 adiagrammatic view of a circuit having as elements therein the main wireH and a branch wire (marked N,) which is connected to the upperbinding-post shown in Fig. 5, the latter being connected by a short wire0 with the guide C of said key 5.

The operation of the apparatus above described is simple. If it bedesired to establish an electrical circuit through the main wire M andbranch N, key 5 is depressed, its contact-piece is forced down intocontact with the connectors, and the circuit is established, it beingunderstood that the break in the distant part of the circuit is normallyclosed. Now when the contacting piece impinges upon the connector it isheld thereto by the magnet, and the circuit is maintained until brokenby the circuit-breaker S, whereupon the key-locking magnet isdeenergized and the spring returns the key to its normal position.

In Fig. (3 I have shown a keyboard having five keys or circuit-closerswith a main wire M and live branch wires, forming elements in as manybranch circuits, one of said wires being marked N and forming with thewire H an electrical circuit controlled by the key 5.

It is obvious that a large number of circuits may be thus cont-rolled bya switchboard of simple construction and compact form, the several keysbeing locked by the same connector. It will be understood that the twoconnectors and their magnets are duplicates of each other and that anynumber of spools may be employed or a magnet of any desired strengthemployed.

In the preceding description I have mentioned only one use to which thisinvention might be put, but it will be understood that there may besubstituted in lieu of circuitbrcaker S, which must be manuallyoperated, any automatic circuit-breaker, such, for example, as isemployed in the receiving-boxes of pneumatic tubes.

It will also be understood that the invention is applicable to manyother uscsas, for example, in hotel-annunciators, where thecircuit-breaker in the several circuits could be an ordinarypush-button, and an annunciator-bell would be employed in the circuit.

It will also be understood that the details of construction which arespecifically set forth may be varied both as to structure andarrangement.

I claim 1. The combination with an electrical switchboard having aplurality of keys or circuit-closers and a controlling-magnet having aconnector common to the series of circuit-closers and electricalcircuits corresponding in number to the circuit-closers at the keyboardand normally open thereat and each including the controllingmagnct andeach of said circuit-closers having a controlling device or switchnormally closed, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. An electrical switchboard having a plurality of keys orcircuit-closing devices each provided with a contact-piece, acontrollingmagnet having a connector common to the series of and apluralityof electrical circuits corresponding to the several keys, eachincluding its repective key and the controllingmagnet and a secondcircuit-controller for each branch circuit, substantially as described.

3. The combination with an electrical switchboard having a base, aplurality of keys or circuit-closing devices slidably mounted in saidbase and normally upheld by springs, a con trolling-m agnet having aconnector or con tact-piece common to the several keys, strips of non-conducting or insulating material interposed between the several keysbelow the base, and a series of normally open electrical. circuits, onefor each key, and each of said circuits including the controlling-magnetand having a second circuit-controller therein, substantially asdescribed.

EDMOND A. FORDYGE. lVitnesses:

N. M. BOND, FREDERICK C. GOOID'\\'1N.

